Piggy-chan: I wanna say it.

Rima: That you're stopping the fanfic?

Piggy-chan: No...

Rima: Damn it!

Piggy-chan: Can I say it now...?

Rima: Uh, sure, but i have no idea what you're talking about...

Piggy-chan: THE DUTCH LOST! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Spaniards... even though I'm distantly related to them... I really wanted Netherlands to win the world cup... :(

Rima: OH! You're talking about FIFA world cup...

Piggy-chan: Yes, genius. Anyways, I don't own anything!

Rima: Except Tierra and Neige. You'll see.

-NW :3

Shugo Siblings!

Chapter Three

Some Things Never Change

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was this huge basket ball player poster on the ceiling. I mean, seriously, it's enormous! It almost filled half of the ceiling area. Not that I had a problem with it, it was just kind of disturbing to see this sweaty guy with an angry and determined look bouncing this ball in mid air as he's about to shoot.

I twisted my head a little, but found that it was painful to move. I must have lied here for a long time to have my neck stiff. I moved my whole body as best as I could, but it was hard, because suddenly, my body felt like the weight of an elephant.

"So, you're up?"

I eyed my surroundings in alarm to find the voice. Nagihiko was standing at the doorway, with this worried face.

"Yes," I croaked. It felt really weird. My voice was all craggy and shaky and my body felt like it weighed a ton. My head spun a few times before I eventually re-adjusted them to Nagihiko.

"Are you okay?" His words sounded distant. I focused on his voice.

"I feel strange."

"Bet you do."

"What's with the poster?"

"What are you talking about?" He sounded offended. "That's Japan's best known basketball player!"

The only thing I thought to say was, "He need's a shower."

He laughed. "I wonder how you can still make jokes at a time like this. You've been gone for a day and a half."

My eyes widened. I've blacked out for a day and a half? How was that possible?

"Why are you here?" I asked in a dry tone.

"Why?" He mimicked and began to laugh. It was funny to see him laugh. He clutched his stomach and his eyes were shut. But he smiled a giant smile and made noises that sounded like they had a beat to them. Wait, I'm supposed to hate him! Right, just observing the enemy. That's all I'm doing. Observing. "You're at my house! You mean, why are you here!"

I tried to recall last night's events, but my head hurt to remember anything at the moment. "I don't remember too much. Tell me." I demanded.

He laughed a bit more, then said, "We found you at the gate of our house. You must have been really desperate or something, because you actually dented the gate from kicking it so much at that force. You and Kusukusu were bleeding so we let you in, but just as you did, you fell unconscious from the exhaustion, stress and blood-loss. What happened?'

Then I really did remember everything. The two people I resented as parents, both drunk, one cheated and the other tried to murder. "I don't know. I can't remember too well" I lied. He didn't look satisfied with that look, but he nodded.

My ex-parents, the police, no dinner, and Kusukusu. Wait! Where's Kusukusu!

I sat myself up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, but just as I pulled myself up, I fell down. My legs couldn't take my weight, it was almost like using stilts from a circus for the first time.

"What are you doing?" Nagihiko asked me as he picked me up like I was nothing more than a feather.

"I have to see Kusukusu!" I struggled up again, but Nagihiko wouldn't let me go. "She's fine! Relax, Rima, aren't you tired?"

"No!" I stubbornly refused.

"Aren't you hungry?"

"No!" And as if on queue, my stomach growled with starvation.

He chuckled. "Sure, I'll get some food for you."

"Not until I see Kusukusu!" Yes, I know. I'm plain stubborn. But I have to at least acknowledge the person who saved my ex-mother was alive from the blow.

"What are you so persistent about?" Nagihiko gave me an anxious stare.

"I just want to make sure with my own eyes if she's okay." I pulled myself up, steadied my body and began to walk forward, stumbled a bit and tripped over a book lying in the middle of the effing floor. Nagihiko laughed. Stupid book.

"You can't even walk two meters in-front of you! Resting would be the best choice."

"Then get your lazy butt off of your bed and help me!" I snapped angrily.

He did as I told him and let me pressure my weight on him. He guided me through corridors and halls that confused me by the second. It felt like a maze in here! Finally, we reached a door painted white, Nagihiko opened it, and I saw Kusukusu lying on a bed inside.

I rushed over to her, ignoring the throbbing of my aching heart. I checked her wrist for pulse, and sighed. She really was alright. Her pulse was normal, and the blood was gone from her clothes. Actually, she wasn't even wearing her little costume anymore. I wasn't wearing my pajamas either. Someone must have changed them for us.

While thinking about it, I heard Nagihiko sit down beside me, and I glanced at Kusukusu once again. She slept like an angel. She was so peaceful looking and breathed slowly under the covers. I noticed her left arm was bandaged tightly.

The knife, I thought. I remembered everything she did. She saved my ex-mother' life. She saved it for her own. And the question that bothered me the most was, Why? Why had she saved me, knowing they'd never get along in the beginning? Why?

"Because there's still hope, remember?" Kusukusu's eyes were open, she must have been telepathic or something, because she placed her hand on mine and stated, "Remember how badly you wanted your perfect family?"

"Yes," I chocked. My tears welled up in my eyes, ready to explode.

"Rima-chan, I understand how much you wanted it. And when your dad was about to… to hurt her, I just couldn't allow it."

But then, something inside of me… just snapped.

"Are you kidding me?" I roared suddenly. "How could you believe in all this time that it was still possible? They will never change! I've tried millions of times, those perfect parents the other day just felt so fake! That's why… I…"

I felt a loss for words. Kusukusu risked her human life to give mine a second chance to start over. I don't know how to take this, but I realized, this is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. Other than Amu who cheered me up and possibly at times, Nagihiko, who had risked his life to save me from X eggs or those kinds of things.

"Rima, you can't let your spirit be crushed just because of a dispute, or a wound." She pulled her hand out of mine and put it against my cheek, wiping away tears I hadn't noticed before. "Taking chances is the only way to live your own life. It's the only way to get what you want from it. Happiness is something you'll have to fight for in your life, Rima. But I've given you strength." She let out a choky breath. "Keep smiling… Rima."

She lowered her hand and closed her eyes. "I'm tired."

I roughly cleaned the rest of the tears away with my fore-arm and pulled the covers over her. "You should sleep then." And my answer was greeted by light snores.

"What was that all about?" I had completely forgotten about Nagihiko.

"Nothing," I mumbled. He gave me a look but didn't object. I pulled myself up and it felt easy enough to walk without support. Maybe Kusukusu did give me strength.

I walked into the dining room with Nagihiko who was trying to explain where everything was.

"So Sleeping Beauty and her prince have arrived, huh?" A girl in a maid dress with long flowing black hair and sea green eyes sat on a chair eating what looked like lunch.

"Tierra…" Nagihiko looked ready to throw a brick at her.

"Okay, okay. Take it easy, it was just a joke!" Tierra held up her hands in surrender.

"How many times does Baaya have to tell you? You can't eat at the family dining room if we have guests!" Nagihiko pointed to the door. "Your sister never does these kinds of things! Why do you?"

She rolled eyes as she picked up her empty plate and cup. "Because the Earth is stubborn and solid―"

"Just like you." Nagihiko continued. "But honest to God, you don't always have to be like that, even if your name means the earth in Spanish."

"Yeah, and Neige's name means snow in French. So it's not entirely my fault if she's delicate and pale as a snowflake."

She walked up to us and gave me a wink and a smile, "I hope your feeling better, I got scared out of my wits that Nagihiko might have done something to you…" Nagihiko gave her an I'll-send-you-to-Hell look and Tierra turned around and fled.

"She has a sister?" I glanced at Nagihiko who gave a tired nod.

"They're twins, actually, but exact polar opposites. Neige follows every order, rule, command and request. Her sister breaks every order, rule and disobeys every command and request."

I giggled.

"What?"

"You sound like some grown up person trying to take care of everything." I pointed out.

He shrugged. "When you're destined to take over the Fujisaki fortune, it's not like you have a choice."

I didn't really understand that, but my stomach growled hungrily. Nagihiko chuckled.

"Looks like you need to eat." I didn't object.

I've never eaten so much in my life. The Fujisaki household cook almost fainted from all my requests. Nagihiko could have died laughing, while I had a bunch of the maids and servants of the household cheering me on. Tierra, the loudest of all, kept shouting "I bet all my life's work of yen that no one her size can even match!" Which always made me choke from laughing. A girl with snow white hair and ice blue eyes, Neige, her sister, stood beside her, clapping and cheering politely.

But I have to admit, everything started to feel right. These people could make my world turn upside down. And after a while, I forgot how sad I was. Just a little bit. I never thought I'd be saying this, but I envied Nagihiko. His world was so happy. I wish I had a world like that.

I placed my fifteenth bowl of Udon noodles next to my three empty plates of sushi, which was beside a clean basket of buns and Taiyaki, stacked with seven bowls of fried rice.

I patted my stomach while Tierra pushed her way over to the table and counted all the empty bowls, trays and what not.

"HOLY CRAP SLIPPERS!" Tierra exclaimed loud enough for everyone to hear above the cheering and yelling. "Twenty freaking six!" And the crowd went wild.

I smiled. I glanced at my shoulder where Kusukusu would be, laughing her butt off, but all that was there was an empty space. I frowned. Even though she was annoying… I missed her a lot. Maybe I should tell her what happened today. I'm sure she would get a kick out of it.

"WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" Suddenly the cheering died out and the crowd parted before two people. One was an old woman I'd seen yesterday. Baaya, I think that's what Nagihiko called her. And the other was a pretty woman with maroon-ish purple hair tied in a bun and caramel coloured eyes. She wore a kimono and reminded me a bit of Temari. She looked furious.

"Back to work." She muttered and everyone scuffled out of the small kitchen. I felt myself shiver as I saw her examine the empty bowls. I felt like some inspector had come and if there was something she didn't like about me, I would be executed or something.

"Did you eat all of this food, child?"

I refused to look her, so I stared at my feet. In the corner of my eye I saw Nagihiko pulling at his purple hair nervously.

"Y-yes?" My voice quivered. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eat all of it. I was really hungry, and I couldn't help myself. Don't blame Nagihiko. I was just… I'm sorry!" I bowed my head as low as it could go.

"Child…" I looked up and saw her smiling face. "I'VE FINALLY FOUND A COMPETATOR!"

Nagihiko burst out laughing.

Okay… I have to say but, I did not expect that reaction.

"So you're not mad that I…"

"Of course not, child!" She laughed.

Baaya spoke up. "Mistress eats a lot more than you do, child." Then she began to laugh as well. "You are truly a strange but interesting child."

"Uh… thank you?" I didn't know if I should have taken that as a compliment.

"Child, what is your name?"

I looked up to see everyone had finished laughing. "I'm uh… Mashiro Rima."

"Mashiro-san, it is nice to have someone like you in the household." Baaya smiled and the lady nodded approvingly. Nagihiko grinned and I felt a surge inside myself to beam.

"Just call me Rima." I was beginning to love it here.

"Rima, I'm Nagihiko's mother, and this is the caretaker, Baaya." I bowed. I know that sounds a little too formal, but I felt like this was some kind of necessity.

"Rima-chan, please, we would like to know, what happened yesterday?" Suddenly, my heart felt like a load of bricks.

"I-I'm sorry. I don't remember." My face darkened.

"Is there anything we could do for you? Maybe if we call your parents―"

"No. That won't be necessary." I got up and walked out of the room leaving three shocked people.

For the rest of the day, I stayed in the guest room and watched over Kusukusu, sometimes recovering her with the blanket, cleaning her wound, or just watching her mumble in her sleep. I sat against the opposite wall of her, holding my knees against my chest in my ball position, wondering what she did to deserve this. She risked her life for my dream of a perfect life. My dream of a happy life. My dream of a happy family. A smile, a laugh, a perfectly beautiful world. She had hope. I had hope. She was born from that hope. The hope of that perfect world being possible to make into reality. To make everything okay again. I hugged my knees and nestled my head in them. I found my dream and my goal. But I lost half of myself getting here. The perfect world I wanted to be in was here all along. Just with the wrong people. We were here, and I had everything I wanted. But I felt like a missing puzzle piece was missing from all of this. Kusukusu was.

I crawled over to Kusukusu and buried my head in her chest. I began to cry.

"Kusukusu, don't die. I'm sorry. I really am." I whispered into the blanket. But just as I suspected, she didn't get up and hug me, or tell me a joke to cheer me up. "Please don't die. I wouldn't just stop laughing if you did. I'd just die completely. So please…" I cried so hard, I heard myself screaming. The world would stop spinning to me if Kusukusu disappeared.

"Um… Rima?" I didn't look up, but from the pressure from my shoulder, I knew it was Nagihiko. "It's late. You should get to sleep."

"Lemme go." I muttered. "Go 'way, purple-head."

"She'll be okay, Rima. I know she'll wake up."

"Prove it."

He chuckled. "I'm not a doctor or anything, but the wound is healing, so it'll be okay."

I pulled my head off of the covers and wiped the remaining tears. My eye lids felt heavy, and my hair was a cascade of knots.

"I hope you're right." I sighed.

"You're not the only one in the dumps. Rhythm refused to come out of his room."

I felt the corners of my lips turn upward a bit. "I feel sorry for him."

Nagihiko just laughed some more. "My mom told me I should let you stay in my room since we don't have anymore guest rooms left."

I whipped around and almost yelled, "No. Way. I'm not staying in your room―"

"Or you could stay in the attic."

"I'll take the attic." Here's a tip. When asked to either stay in a certain purple-headed cross-dresser's room or the attic, always, always take the attic. Even if you have a fear of ghosts. Always choose the attic.

He led me back to his room. "What are you…?" Then he pulled a door in the ceiling that I hadn't noticed before.

"The attic's in my room." He replied and began to climb the stair ladder. Just as I was about to follow, I noticed in the corner of the room was a guitar. I raced over and picked it up. It looked new and shiny, like no one had ever used it, yet it was dusty. I sneezed.

"Rima-chan?" He stuck his head out the hatch in the ceiling so it looked like his head was upside down. His hair flew down like a purple mop. I laughed.

He gasped. "You laughed!"

"No I didn't. Shut up."

"Hey," He began to come down the ladder. "What are you doing?'

"I didn't know you played the guitar."

"I don't." He sat down beside me. "But my dad played it for me once. A long time ago."

"What happened?" I was suddenly curious about his dad. I've never seen him before, just heard of him.

Nagihiko's eyes saddened. It hurt a bit to see him like that. "Com'on. I'll show you." He led me up into the attic.

When I poked my head out, I'll be honest. I expected to see a dusty attic with cob webs in every corner. Maybe card board boxes that hadn't been opened in years, but instead, I was looking at a little girl's room. It had pink wallpaper with flowers and a carpet that was similar to green grass in a grove. A small window reminded me of those windows you'd see in a church. Ones with pictures of lambs or angels. This one had pretty blue flowers that shimmered in the moon light. There was white furniture everywhere. The room looked like it belonged to someone really special.

"What…?"

"This room was supposed to be for my sister." Nagihiko was sitting on a white bed with pink bed sheets in the corner of the room.

"You mean Nadeshiko?" I teased.

"No." Nagihiko's bangs covered his face so I couldn't tell what he was feeling. I realized he wasn't in a teasing mood so I brought the guitar with me and sat next to him on the bed.

"Who?"

He twirled a blue flower in between his fingers. The moonlight reflected off the pretty flower behind us. "When I was about six, my mom announced that I was going to have a sister. We were going to name her Nadeshiko so she could take over the dancing and I could live the rest of my life as a boy. My parents were so excited. Especially my dad. He really wanted a daughter."

The flower fell from his hands and on the grassy green carpet.

"What happened?" I was afraid I knew the answer.

"It was a miscarriage." He said flatly. But if you listened hard enough, I started to hear his voice tremble.

"He called me a curse. My dad thought I was bad luck. He never spoke to me again. He ignored my very existence. My mom didn't like it, so one day, she told him to leave. And he did. He left the house without a second glance."

A small drop landed on one of the petals of the blue flower. I didn't need to check if I was right, I knew Nagihiko was crying.

Then something weird happened next. Nagihiko hugged me. In normal situations I would have yelled at him than pulled him off. But all his emotions made me feel like we had some kind of… understanding.

Then it must have been some kind of reflex, but I hugged him back. He had hugged me from the side so all I could do was hug his arms while he rested his head on the shoulder closest to him. I had always thought he had a perfect life. But really, he was just getting over the nightmare he lived in the past. I didn't realize how hard his life was on him, and I wouldn't have if I kept being so dense. But just as much as I was hurting, he was just healing.

"That's why every time you called me and idiot or other names," he whispered in my ear between chokes. "I felt like I needed an explanation. My dad always insulted me for no reason. It bothered me to know why you were the same."

I felt guilt get to me. "Sorry," I murmured with a sigh.

"Why?"

"Because you made me feel weird and you were getting too close to Amu." But I realized he wasn't talking about why I hated him He was wondering why his father hated him. "I'm sorry." I repeated. "Looks like we both have parents who hate our guts, huh?"

"Yeah," He broke away and wiped his tears. "Sorry, I didn't―"

"It's okay," I gave him a small smile. "I just owed you, that's all."

He chuckled and headed for the stair ladder. But before he left, he laughed, "Rima-chan's blushing!"

I ran over and slammed the hatch door on his head, heard the successful thud on the ground (his body hitting the floor) and laughed evilly.

"Oww, Rima-chan~! That hurt…"

Yeah, some things will never change.

Piggy-chan: Thought I'd make them kiss, huh?

Rima: Thank God she didn't.

Piggy-chan: Oh no, that doesn't mean I'm not going to make them. Rima just needs time to bond with him first ^-^

Rima: Oh NO. No nonononononononononononono!

Piggy-chan: Too bad. I've already decided it! MWAHAHAHAHA! Geez, i think Tadase's character change is starting to rub on me T.T

Rima: Why did you bring in OCs?

Piggy-chan: Cuz I wanted some people to be recognised from all those emloees of the Fujisaki household. Their minor characters. Don't worry. ^w^

Rima: Later alligators.

Piggy-chan: They're not reptiles T.T;; And thankies for all who reviewed! LOVE YOU ALL TOO MUCH!

Rima: Hey. Hey you. That's right, you there. I'll use my awesome Rima-powers on you if you don't review. Seriously, just click. One little click. Scroll down. Pretty right? Pretty bright blue button. Click!

-NW :3